Developed RTE product is packaged, pre-cut fresh apples with an improved shelf life of 10-12 days with excellent visual quality. They are convenient, ready-to-use and produce little or no waste for the consumers or food service operators. Cut apple pieces may be used as a snack, as an ingredient for mixed fruit salads, as a fruit topping for a dessert, for fruit juice preparation, or in many other applications. As RTE apple slices are not very popular in market of fresh-cut produce due to deterioration of their visual appeal after cutting, the present technology will result in development of minimally processed RTE apple slices with an improved shelf life and thus making its easy availability in super markets.

 

SALIENT FEATURES

• Developed RTE apple product provides a convenience product of apple for retails and supermarkets.
  
• Generally regarded as safe (GRAS) chemicals which are available in local market are employed.
  
• The product has an improved shelf-life of 10-12 days at 10 ºC which will lead to decreased frequency of loading on the shelves in supermarkets.
  
• The product exhibits excellent sensory and visual quality during intended storage period.
  
• The treatment has been employed for 7 different varieties of apples available in market.
  
• The developed technology will improve the popularity of apple in fresh-cut fruits industry.
  
• No specific equipments are required for product processing.
  
• No waste is generated at consumer end.
  
• The cost of developed product is comparable with existing products.

 APPLICATIONS

• The RTE product developed can be sold in retail and supermarkets as a ready-to-eat fresh produce.
  
• It can be a popular product in flight kitchen, restaurants and hotels.

Packaged, pre-cut fresh apples are appealing to consumers and food service operators because they are convenient, ready-to-use, and produce little or no waste for the consumers or food service operators. Cut apple pieces may be used as a snack, as an ingredient for mixed fruit salads, as a fruit topping for a dessert, for fruit juice preparation, or in many other applications. However, ready-to-eat (RTE) apple slices are not very popular in market of fresh-cut produce. The technology will result in development of minimally processed RTE apple slices with an improved shelf life and thus making its easy availability in super markets.

ADVANTAGES

• Can be easily prepared using locally available raw materials
• An improved shelf-life of 10-12 days can be achieved
• Longer shelf-life will reduce the frequency of loading on shelves in supermarkets
• Generally regarded as safe (GRAS) chemicals are employed
• The GRAS chemicals used are easily available in the market
• No harmful chemical residues are incorporated during processing
• The product developed exhibits excellent sensory acceptability
• No specific equipment’s are required for product processing
• No waste is generated at consumer end
• The cost of developed product is comparable with existing products

APPLICATIONS

• The RTE product developed can be sold in retail and supermarkets
• It can be a popular product in flight kitchen, restaurants and hotels.

INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS

a. Raw Materials

• All the raw materials required are available in the local market.

b. Equipments

• Fruit cutter/knives of good quality
• Dip treatment equipment/ Containers for dip treatment
• Arrangement for drying of apple slices to remove excess dip solution
• Equipment for sealing of packages

c. Space

• A room with 200 ft2 area (20’ x 10’)

d. Power

• Single phase power connection.

e. Manpower

• 1-2 persons trained with good manufacturing practices (GMPs) are required for production.Actual manpower would depend on production capacity.